Key-holder.



F. J. DEAN.

KEY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1911.

1,052,802. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

' an edge view of the parts or members shown ti s a FRANCIS J. DEAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO F. J. DEAN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

KEY-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANGIs J. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to key holders or devices for holding collectively a plurality of keys, to prevent misplacement or loss of the latter, and for convenience in carrying the same, and it has for its object to provide an improved key holder which will be superior in point of simplicity and inexpensiveness of formation and construction, and positiveness and efficiency in use and service, and which will have added features of advantage all as hereinafter set forth.

The invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction and combination of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing :-F igure 1 is aface view of a key holder formed and organized in accordance with the invention, a plurality of keys being shown connected therewith or held thereby; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts and-members in slightly altered relative positions; Fig. 3 is a still further view of the same showing the parts in still further varied relative positions; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 4-4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, partly broken away for fullness of illustration, and of a modified form of construction and organization; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 66, Fig. 5; and, Fig. 7 is in Figs. 5 and 6.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, the invention comprises, in the main, in both forms of construction shown, two relatively movable members A and B, the latter of which is provided with a separate key holding member I), the remaining keys being held by the member A, in a group or bunch.

a designates a separate key held by the member 6, and (Z designates a key which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 11, 1911.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 626,436.

As shown in all of the figures, the members A and B are preferably in the main annular and concentrically disposed. In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the member B is disposed exteriorly of the member A; and in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive the member B is disposed interiorly of the member A.

Referring now to the showing in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the member A comprises a split annulus 8 having flat parallel faces and a flat inner face at right angles thereto, the outer edge face or periphery being formed into or provided with an annular groove 9 which receives a split annulus 10, which is slidab-ly mounted in the groove 9, such split annular formation providing spaced member ends 10 and 10 The ends 10 and 10 are spaced apart equally with the relative spacing of the ends 8 and 8 of the split annulus 8, so that the splits or breaks in the annuli may be brought into registration, as: shown in Fig. 2, for passing keys on to the annulus 8. Vvhen such breaks or splits are out of registration, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the keys are held in position upon or by the members A and B. The member Z) is produced by providing a loop or bend 11 in the annulus 10, adjacent to the end 10 formed in the split annulus, the same projecting laterally from the annulus 8, and forming an eye normally closed by the annulus 8, but which may be brought into position to register with the break in the annulus 8, as shown in Fig. 3, so that a key may be passed from the annulus 8 into the loop 11. When the annuli 8 and 10 are relatively moved to positionsv such as that shown in Fig. 1, theannulus 10 closes the break in the annulus 8, retaining the key or keys held upon the annulus 8, and the annulus 8 closes the eye formed by the loop 11, retaining the key held by such loop, all as shown in Fig. 1. The fiat faces and inner edge portion of the annulus 8 may readily receive imprints or impressions of an advertising or other nature.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the member A comprises a split annulus 12, providing spaced end portions 12 and 12 at the break of the annulus, such annulus 12 being provided in its inner periphery with a substantially annular groove or channel 13 extending from one end 12 of the annulus 12 continuously to one end of a segmental slot 1 1 formed in the other end portion of the annulus 12 through a precetermined arc and midway between the flat facial portions of the annulus 12. The member B comprises a broken annulus 15 seated slidably in the groove 13, the break in such annulus forming spaced ends 15 and 15 which are relatively separated to the same degree as the spaced ends 12 and 12 at the break in the annulus 12. The member 6 comprises a loop or bend 16 in the annulus 15, adjacent to one end 15 of said annulus, the same projecting laterally from the annulus 12 and forming an eye normally closed by said annulus but adapted to be brought into registration with the break in the annulus 12 to receive a key from the annulus 12 in the same manner as set forth with relation to the other form of construction shown in the drawing. The annulus 15 normally closes the break in the annulus 12, as shown in Fig. 5. The main bunch of keys is carried upon the annulus 12, and a separate key is carried by the member 6, and such key is preferably that most used, such as a desk or pass key. The outer parallel faces of the annulus 12, and the outer peripheral face of its annulus, are preferably plane and smooth and may readily receive an advertising imprint or impression or the like.

Both forms of construction are operated and utilized in the same manner, in attaching or connecting keys therewith and with the members thereof, in segregating a specific key for the member I), and in withdrawing keys from the members, relative rotation of both members, which may readily be effected by grasping the member a and the member I) in each instance, permitting such adjustments of the parts and members as are necessary in effecting the required manipulations. ,1

The device is of extreme convenience in use, and yields itself readily to advertising purposes and the like, and enables the user to always retain a particular preferred or much used key out of the general bunch of keys, obviating the necessity of extended search for such specific key as is the case in the use of ordinary key rings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

An improved key holder comprising a first split annulus provided with an interior peripheral groove extending throughout a predetermined portion thereof, and also provided with a slot extending between one terminus of said peripheral groove and one end portion of said split annulus; and a second split annulus movably mounted within said peripheral groove and provided with a loop projecting laterally of said first named annulus through said slot.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS J. DEAN. ll itnesses RAYMOND W. SUPPLEE, C. P. VARDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C. 

